Can washing machine



f `June'28, A1.938'. :F.-FQwQLF y "2J-22,018 l' 'I v vCAN WASHINGMACHINE I vFiled Nov. 22, 1.954 .4 sheets-sheet` 1 MACHINE y 4 Sheets-Sheetl Filled Nov, 122, 1.954

A2. I nur Hank. F 'Mb/ff' l June' 28,1938. F. F; w'QLF' l l 1 CAN WASHING MAQHINE. Y

Filed Nov. 22,1954 v 4 shts-sheet s sah Y n:

F. F. WOLF CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Noy. 22, '1934 lJim 28,1938."

4 Sheds-Sheet 4 vant/f j' Patented June-22o,` I i Y I y UNITED. PATENT OFFICE t,

t CAN WASHING MACHINE Frank F. Wolf, Cattaraugus, N. Y., assigner to Oakes & Burger Co., Inc., Cattaraugus, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York` f Application November 22, 1934,v Serial No. 754,281 11018111118. (Cl. 141-7) This invention relates to machines for washing Figure 10 is a fragmentary section taken along and sterilizing milk cans and similar containers line ||0 of Figure 9. l yand more particularly the invention is concerned Figure 11 is a vertical section taken along line withimprovements in machines of the type hav- If-I of Figure 3. 4 f y ing a series of stations to which the containers are Figure '12 is a fragmentary vertical section 5 moved and subjected to the action of the various taken along line |2-l2 of Figure 3.v treating fluids which are to condition them for Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section takuse. .en along line |3-I3 of Figure 3. One object of the invention is a machine hav- Figure 14 is a similar section taken along line 10V ing a novel arrangement and design of parts,I |4|4 of Figure 3. i 10 whereby compactness and economy in construc- Figure 15 is a fragmentary horizontal section l tion are obtained. v taken along line |5|5 of Figure 13.

A furtherA object is to provide a-machine which Figure 16 is a fragmentary section taken along is economical to operate and which is lhighly line |6|6 of Figurel5.; ineffective in washing'and'sterilizing the containers. Various of "the features of the invention'are 15 Astillfurther object is amachine in which'proapplicable to machines of `both the rotary and vision is made for accommodating containers of straightaway types. The machine illustrated, different sizes. however, is ofn the rotary type and it includes .a f A stil further object is to provide a machine in cylindrical housing 20 (Figure 1) which is sup- 20 which the moist air which fllls the containers ported upon legs 2|, 22, 23 and 24, the legs 2|, 20

after the sterilizing operations is withdrawn and 23'and 24 being adaptedto rest directly upon the lremoved from their vicinity. oor while the leg'v 22 is connected at'its lower A still further object` is to provide a machine end to an angle member 25. One arm of the having separateloading and unloading stations. member 25 is connected to the leg 2|'- and the 25 Astill further object isa machine in which yproother arm is connected to the leg 23, the said 25 visionis made for preventing contamination of member carrying at the juncture of itstwoarms the water which is' employed to rinseA thewashing a .block 26 which is adapted to rest upon the oor. solution from the containers. The housing 20 includes a side wall 21,'a top wall Astill further'object is to provide a novel means 28 and -areinforcing band 29, it being noted that l rforsubjecting the covers of the containers to the that part of theside wall'which is at the frontV of 30 line 5-5 of Figure 4.

action of the washing solution, this object conthe machine overlaps the band 29 and terminates ternplating the yuse of steam as a motive fluid for at this point while that part of the side wall which spraying the'covers with thesaid solution. is at the rear of the machine extends well below 'I'he invention is illustrated in the accompanythe said band as best shown in Figure 2. The' 35 ing drawings in which: side wall 21 is formed at the front with an open- 35 Figure 1 is a front elevation of 4a machine in ing 3|) through which the containers to be treated which features of the invention yare incorporated. are introduced into the machine and through Y Figure -2 is a rear view ofthe machine also in which they are removed from the machine upon elevation. I completion of the treating operations, the said o Figure 3 is ahorizontal section taken along opening extending from the top wall 28 of the 40 line 3--3 of Figure 1-. 'f housing to the reinforcing band 29. The housing Figure 4 is a` fsimilar section taken along line 20 is also formed with a plurality of circumferenl-A of Figure 1. tially spaced openings 20a through which the var- Figure 5' is a fragmentary section taken along ious parts of the machine are accessible, the said openings being normally closed by suitable slid- 45 Figure 6 is` a fragmentary vertical section taken ing doors 20h.

along lin'eB-S of Figure 3. When introduced into the machine the con- Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken alongline tainers are inverted and rested upon a pair of cir' 1 1 of Figure 1. cular concentric bars 3| and 32 (Figure 4), the f FigureA 8 is a similar section taken along vline said bars providing a circular trackway and being 5o V8-.8 of Figure 1 suitably secured in the machine by angle mem- Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section bersj33. The containers are moved around the taken along line 9-,9 of Figure 9a. said trackway by acarrier member 34. The mem- Figure 9a is a vertical section takenalong line ber 34 is formed or provided with an elongated tubular b ody 35 (Figure 3) which carries ve sub- 65 stantially radially extending arms 36, theouter ends oi the said arms extending angularly forward with respect to their inner ends. Hubs 31 and 38 (Figure 11) are secured in the upper and-V lower ends respectively of the tubular body 35 by cross bars 39 and they t around a stationary shaft 40 which is 'secured at 'its upper end to a cross member 4| which is carried by the top wall 28 of the housing. `At its lower end the shaft 48 fits in a socket which is formed-ina member 42 (Figure 9a). bracket extension 43 by which it is suitably supported from a wall 44, a thrust plate 44a preferably being arranged between the hub 38 and th co-operating face of the member 42.

The arms 36 of the member 34 extend from the top wall28 of the housing to within a short distance of the track bars 3| and 32 and their outer ends terminate in the vicinity of the circular side wall of the housing, whereby to divide the interior of the housing into independentcompartments. 'Ihe arms 36 carry 4plates 41 (Figure 15) which are adapted to engage Vthe necks 48 of the containers and move them around the track bars 3| and 32 as the member 34 rotates, the said plates being cut away as at 49 to provide recesses in which the necks t.

The arms 36 of the member 34 also carry plates (Figures 7 and 12) which are located a short distance from the tops of the arms and which support the covers in such a position upon the plates 5| that their interiors will be exposed to the treating fluids which are employed, a stop 52 is secured to each plate 5|. The said stop limits movement of the covers toward the tubular body 35 of the member 34, the covers being held in an inclined position with their tops resting against the stops 52 by rods 53 which are formed with parallel end portions 54 that engage the under lsides of the cover flanges.

Means is provided for effecting step-by-step rotary movements of the carrier member 34, whereby to cause the containers vto move stepby-step around the trackway provided by the bars 3| and 32. For this purpose a series of angle members 54a (Figures 9 and 10) are secured to the inside of the tubular body 35 at its lower end, the said members providing teeth which cooperate with a ratchet 55. The said ratchet is carried by a lever 56 which is pivotally mounted upon the member 42, the ratchet being supported for pivotal movement upon a pin 51 which is carried by a lateral enlargement 58 of the `hub 59 of the lever. 'I'he end of the lever 56 is connected by a link 60 (Figure 8) to a crank 6| which is carried by a shaft 62. The said shaft is connected to the drive pulley of an electric motor 63 by reducing gears 64, 65, 86 and 66a and a pulley 61, the various parts of' the said gear reducing mechanism being supported beneath the trackway for the containers by a hanger 68 which is suitably secured to the wall 44 while the motor 63 is mounted upon a base 68a which is supported upon the arms of the member 25.

The ratchet 55 is normally held in engagement withy the angle members 54a by a spring 69. When the motor 63, therefore, is connected to power the crank 6| rotates and the lever 56 The said member includes aA tionary, the ratchet `55 being depressed against thev action offthespring 89 as the ratchet passes Iover the succeeding angle member 54a so that as the lever 56 again moves forwardthe carrier "member 34 will again be rotated through a. predetermined angular distance.

It will be apparent that .as the actuating mechanism rotates the carrier member 34 in the I manner described the containers are moved stepby-step around the trackway, the containers'and their covers remaining stationary during the return .movements of the lever 56. In the machine illustrated the actuating vmechanism is so designed that the carrier member 34 makes` a complete revolution in vten movements, there be,-

ing a period of rest after each such movement.

`For each position. of rest of the `carrier member 34 there is, of course, a corresponding rest position for the containers.

In the use of the machine, assuming the carrier member 34 to be at rest in the dotted-line position shown in Figure 3, an inverted container is inserted through the left side of the opening 38-and is rested uponuthe track bars 3| and 32 in the position indicated indotted lines at 18 (Figure 3). At the same time the container .cover is arranged in the manner described upon the shelf 5| directly over the container. Upon operation of the actuating mechanism to rotate the carrier member a step forward (clockwise) the container is moved to the full-line'position indicated at 1|. In this positionA the mouth of the containeris located directly over a nozzle 12 which is connected by a pipe 13 to a water included in the pipe 14 and which is normally closed. The said valve includes an actuating lever 16 which is normally held out of contact with the stem of the valve by a spring 16a. 'I'he free end of the lever extends into the path of the lip of the container, whereby the container itself ysupply pipe 14. The discharge of v'water from the nozzle 'I2 is controlled by a valve 15 which is moves the actuating lever 16 to open the valve 15 and hold it open so long as the container remains in 'the position shown. 'I'he water which enters the pipe `13 is discharged from the nozzle 12 into the container to thoroughly rinse it. 'I'he water which drains from the container enters a, shallow receptacle 11 which may be connected to a suitable waste pipe.

In order to condition the machine to accommodate containersY of various sizes, each plate' 41 preferably carries an adapter element 11a.

The latter is pivotally mounted upon 4the plate and is movable to one position (see dotted line position in Figure 15 and full-line position in Figure 16), in which its free end extends into the recess 49. Wheny the adapter 11a is moved to such a position its free end co-operates with the neck of a relatively small container to hold the container against the oppositewall Yof the recess 49. When a` large size container is to be washed and sterilized vthe adapter is moved to the full-line position shown in Figure 15, the neck of the containergin this case substantially lling the recess 49. It will be apparent, there- \fore, that both large and small containers are 2,122,0is y flows from the tank.19 into the tank." it passes through. and is nltered by, the screen 99. the .particles lof foreign kmatter suspended in the tion of the container which engages the actuat-l ing lever 18 `co--operates with the said lever in substantially thesame manner whether the container be of a large or a small size.

During the next angular movement of the carrier member 34 the container ismoved tothev position indicated in-dotted lines vat 18, the actuatinglever 18 being released during therinitial part of this movement to permit the valve 18 to cut oil the supplyeof water to the nozzle 12. During thetimelthat 'the container rests at the. position indicated at 18 the rinse water'. .is permitted to Adrain from it. ,It will be noted v that thecontainer projects beyond the receptacle 11 and overliesa tank 19 .which will be described more Vfully hereinafter.

' tank 19. A screen 89 is arranged in the tank 88 and is adapted to prevent solid materials from lpassing to the pump 86. An opening r9|) which is branch being connected .by a pipe 84 and `a pipe .Y

85 (Figures 2 andy 8) to the exhaust sideof a pump, The pump 86, as illustrated, is con- `nected to the armature shaft of the motor 83 (Figure 1) and is mounted upon an extension of the motor base`68'a. `The intake s'ide'of the pump is connected by a conduit 81 to a tank 88. AThe latter is formed upon the housing v2|] (Figurel 11) and communicates with the vtank 19, it being 'noted that the vtank 88 while relatively narrow in width extends well below the bottom `wall ofthe formed in the bottomof the tank 88 provides a drainage outlet and is normally closed by a valve 98a (Figures 3 and 4).

The tank 19 provides a reservoir for the soda solution whichis employed in Washing the containers and their covers. Preferably a valve 9| i (Figure 4) is included in the pipe 84. The said valve isfnormally closed.` It includes an 'actuating lever 92 which is similar to and which functions in substantiallythe same manner as rthe actuating lever 16 of the valve 15, that is these openings is* sprayed upon the underside of the cover whilea nozzle 96 which extends to say itextends into the path of the containers so that as a container moves over the nozzle 8| it engages the lever l9i! and moves it to open the valve, whereby to permit vsoda solution to be dis` charged from the said nozzle into the container.` The vpipe section 82 includes a second branch 9,3 which is connected to a pipe 94 (Figure 11). 'IVhe pipe 94 extends vertically along the side wall 21 of the housing opposite the point at which a container comesto rest over the nozzle 8|. A series of` aligned openings 95 are formed inthe pipe 94 and Wall21. The .soda `solution which enters the pipe'94 emerges yfrom the openings 9.'i in the form of sprays, whereby to subject the jexterior of the container to the action of the soda solution. It will benoted that several of the openings 95 are located abovethevshelf 5| uponwhich .the cover of the container is arranged. The sodasolution which emerges from 94 bya branch pipe91.

The soda solution which drains'from the conf tainer and cover while they are 'located over the nozzle 8| returns to the tank 19. As this liquid liquid vsettling upon' the said screen. 'I'he soda solution,v therefore, which enters the tank 89 is filtered yprior to its'withdrawal by the pump Il.

Preferably-the screen 89 is mounted fin suitable guideways' formed at opposite sides of the tank, f

whereby to enable removalofthe screen for cleaning.l A tting 98 (Figure 2) iscarried by the side wall of the housing 28, the said fitting communicating with the tank 19 at the overilovlr Alevel and being `adapted to be connected to a suitable waste pipe. v y

'After being subjected to the action of the soda solution as described the container is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines at 99 (lllgure 3), the lever 92 of the valve,9| being released as the container moves away from the nozzle 8| to vcut 01T the supply'of soda solution to the said nozzle. In the positionl indicated at 99 the container and its cover are permitted to drain. The

container is still located over the tank |9.- Any soda solution draining from it or its cover, therefore, returns to the said tank.

From the drain position the container is moved to the position indicated in full lines at |88. In this position the container is located over yim ejector |8| (Figure 12). The said ejector is located in a tank 82 which adjoins the tank 'I9 and which provides a reservoir for the rinse waterwhich is to be used in'removing the washing solution from the containers and their covers. The ejector-is partially immersedin the vrinse vwater as shownv and is connected by a branch pipe |83 and pipes |84, Illiand |88 (Figure 2) to a steam supply pipe |81. 'Ihe pipe |85 includes a normally closed valvev |88. The said valve is provided with an actuating lever |89. (Figures 3 and 4)which normally extends into the path traversed by the containers. Hence as the container moves to a position over the ejector |`8| as described the lever |89 is actuated to open the valve |88 and admit steam to the ejector. As the steam is discharged from the ejector it carries rinse water in to the can with'V it.` The rinse water is preferably maintained at a temperature of the order vof 180 F.- by the steam which .is supplied to the` ejector, the temperature of the water beingshown upon a suitable indicator 58.

in the form of a spray, thereby removing the washing solution and at the same time heating the container.

Means is provided-for rinsing the washing so-r housing and terminates at a point above and opposite "the shelf 5| .upon which the cover is arranged. The pipe ||3 communicates with the interior of the housing through one or more openings ||4. It will be apparent that while the carrier member 34 is Amoving the container from the position indicated at 99 to the position indicated at |88 the Valve |88 -Will be closed. Hence rinse water will flow by gravity through thel ejector |8|, pipes |83, ||2 and. into the cylinder ||8. is operated steam is not only admitted to the ejector |8| as described but steam is `also ad- -Hence Vas the valve |88 1s opened hot water is directed into the containerv When the valve |88.`therefore,

mitted to the cylinder H through pipes I |2 and IH. The rinse water in the cylinder is forced by the steam up through the pipe H9 to the Opening H4 through which it emerges in the 43 form of a spray, thereby rinsing the washing solution from the cover.

As the rinse water drains from the container and'cover a partof it returns to the tank 02. lIn accordance with the invention a substantial Il() part of it, however, is caused to enter the tank 19 which contains the washing solution, it being noted that in the rinse position the container extends over the partition H5 which sepf arates the washing solution tank from vthe rinse ll tank. A vertical pipe H6 (Figure 12) therefore,

`is arranged against the housing and' adjacent the pipe H3. f steam pipes |04 and |05 by a pipe H6a and a fitting ||1. At its upper end it communicates l0 with the interior of the housing through upper and lower openings I I8 and I9 respectively. It will be apparent that upon operation of the valve |09 steam will be admitted to the pipe H6 and'wlll be discharged through the openings H8 -and ||9 in the form of sprays.

"'The upper opening H8 is located at such a height that the steam which passes through it directed against the top of the container.` The steam spray removes the liquids and suspended 90 materials which have accumulated upon the bot tom of the container and forces them over that portion of vthe bottom edge of the container which lies adjacent vthe tubular body of the carrier member. The said liquids and suspended 85 materials flow down alongside the body 35, pass through openings |20 which are formed in the neck engaging plate 41 and enter the soda solution tank 19. The construction described has the advantage that contamination of the rinse 0 water is prevented as the washing solution and solid materials which are removed from the bottoms of the container drain into the soda. solution tank and are directed through the tank 88 to remove the solid materials in the manner del scribed. In the event that small size containersare being washed and sterilized, the steam jet from the opening H9 is available to remove the liquids and solid particles from the bottoms of the containers.

The rinse water which drains into the tank |9'l'1eats the washing solution. The washing solution is preferably further heated by permitting heated rinse Water to ilow from the tank |02 throughv an. opening ||5a (Figure 8) which is formed in the partition H5 and into the tank 19 at a rate which will maintain theV washing solution at the desired temperature. The temperature of the washing solution is shown upon an indicator 50a (Figure l).

The tanks' 19 and |02 are parts of va larger tank which includes a bottom Wall 19a (Figure 4), the depending portion of the side wall 21 ot the housing and the wall 44, the two tanks being separated by the partition H5 which provides a common division wall. The tank |02 is provided with an outlet fitting |2| through which the excess rinse water passes when the water rises above the desired level, the said f1tting being adapted to be connected to a suitable 'm wastel pipe. Preferably fresh rinse water is introduced into the tank |02 at predetermined intervals. To this end a by-pass pipe 13a (Figures 4 and 13) is connected to the pipe 13 which supplies rinse water to the nozzle 12. 'Ihe pipe 1l 13 communicates with the tank |02. Hence each The pipe H6'is connected to the:

. and 32. It completely closes the mouth of the container except for a small opening |25 which is formed in the plate over the nozzle |24. The said nozzle is connected by pipes |26, |21, |28, |29 and |30 (Figure 2) to the pipe |0| The pipe |21 includes a normally closed valve |3| (Figure 4). The actuating lever |3|a of the valve is engaged and operated by the container as lt-moves over the nozzle |24 to open the ure 11), the plate |23 being formed with an arcuate slot |23a (Figure 4) to accommodate the end of the said lever. The pipe |26 is arranged in the'tank |02 so that it is immersed in the rinse water. A substantial part of the steam, therefore', which enters the pipe |26 is condensed -and the condensate is forced through the nozzle |24 into the container to sterilize and heat it. At the same time steam is directed against the top of thecontainer and the cover by a pipe |32 (Figure 1l) which is connected to the pipe |21 by a pipe |33, th'e supply of steam to the pipe |32 also being controlled by the valve |3|.

The next movement of the carrier member 34 moves the container to the full-line position indicated at |34 (Figure 3), vthe lever |3|a of the valve |3| .being released during the initial part of such movement to cut off the supply of steam to the pipes |26 and |32. In the position indi` catedv at |34 the container, which still rests upon the plate |23, is located over a nozzle |35 (Fgure 14), the plate |23 closing the mouth of the container except for an opening |36 which is formed'in it directly .over the nozzle |35. The said nozzle is connected by a pipe |31, a fitting |38 (Figure 2) and a pipe |39 to the steam pipe |30. The tting |38 (Figure 4) includes a normally closed valve |40. The 'actuating lever |4| of the valve is operated by the container as it moves to a position over the nozzle |35, an arcuate slotI |23b being formed in the plate |23 to accommodate the end ofthe said lever, and steam is admitted to the pipe |31. discharges through the nozzle |35 into the container and builds up to a substantial pressure, whereby the steam is caused to enter all corners, crevices and seams. The container is thus further sterilized and heated;` The pipe |31 is located in the-tank |02 below the surface lof the rinse Water. In order to prevent condensation of the steam as it passes through the said pipe it is preferably 4encased in a jacket |42 (Figure 5).

Preferably the actuating lever |4I of the valve |40 and the actuating levers of the valves 9|, |08 and |3| are of a similar construction and function in substantially the same manner as the actuating lever 16 of the valve 15;

Upon completion of the sterilizing treatment described the container is moved to the position indicated in dotted lines at' |43, (Figure 3), the

lever |4| of the valve |40 being released during the initial part of such` movement to cut oii the supply of steam to the nozzle |35. In the position indicated.. at |43 the container-is located over a nozzle |44 upon the track 'bars 3| and 32, the con- The steam flo `- f escape of such air.

tainer having been moved of! the lplate |23 during its movement to this position.v The nozzle |44 is connected to the exhaust side of a fan |45, the

said fan being connected to the armature shaft of the motor 63 and having an intakepipe |46 which extends vertically alongside the housing of the machine. 'I'he fan |45 `operates continuously. Hence as the container comes to rest over the nozzle |44 a current of air is directed into it,

thereby driving from the container the hot moist air with which it islled.` In order to 'eiect the removal of the moist air from the vicinity of the container a second' nozzle |41 (Figures 1 ,and- 6), which is also connected to' the exhaust side of the fan, is located at one side of the Vmouth of the container. As the hot moist air is forced out of the container in the manner described it is entrained and carried upwardly toward the top of the housing` 20 by the current of air from the nozzle |41, a suitable opening being formed in the topwall 28 of the housing to permit the The removal of the moist air from the container completes the drying operation while the containeris still hot from the sterilizing treatments.

The invention also-contemplates thev drying of Y the cover ofA thev container with the aid of air.'

l. To'this end a. branch pipe |48A (Figure 1) which v communicates with the nozzle |44 extends verticallyv alongside the housing. The said pipe is formed with an outlet -opening |49 (Figure 1) i which vis located opposite the position at which the cover pauses as the container 'comes to rest over the nozzle |44. A part of the air from the fan |45', therefore, passes through the pipe |48 and is directed vagainst the cover to facilitate its drying and complete thel treating operations.

The next movement of the carrier member 34 moves the container to the full-line, or unloading,

Vposition indicated at |50 (Figure 3). When the container reaches this position it is lifted from the track bars 3| and 32 and withdrawn from the housing 20 through the right side of the opening 30. As the 4container is removed from themachine it is inverted. The cover'is then removed from the shelf 5| and replaced upon the container..-

The following movement of the carriermember 34 carries the two arms fromV between which the containerv referred to above has just been removed to a loading position, another container being inverted and inserted through the left side of the opening 3U as described. The carrier member, therefore, has madera complete revolution andoccupies the dotted line position indicated in Figure 3.

From the foregoing it'will be apparent. that although the machine illustrated will accommochines.

the advantage that it is small in size and hence n requires a' minimum-of iioor space. It has the further advantage thaty it represents a relatively small investment as compared to machines of the larger type.

It win be noted that the loading `position of themachine is one step removed from the unloading position. Hence a container and itscover are removed from the machine' during one rest period of the carrier member and a second container and cover and placed in the machine in the compartment of the carrier member occupied bythe first containerA and cover during the next rest period of the carrier member. In other wordsafter the machine is fully loaded, a container to be washed and sterilized will be placed upon the track bars and one which has been washed and sterilized will be removed therefrom during each rest period of the carriage member,

,the containers tovbe washed and sterilized being inserted through one vside of the opening 30 `and those which have been. washed land sterilized being withdrawn through the opposite side oi the said opening. The construction described has the advantage that the operating mechanism may beadjusted to eiect a step-by-step rotary move.

mentl of the carrier member at the desired speed l while insuring adequate time for loading and unloading the containers'and their covers.

I claim as my invention: l 1. In a machine for washing and sterilizing milk cans, the combination of a'trackway upon which said cans are arranged in` single le in an inverted position, said trackway accommodating providing stations along said trackway which in a predetermined number of said cans, means for number are greater than the number of said'cans which said trackway will accommodate,l certain of said stations having means for subjecting said cans one at a time to the action of various fluid mediums which are employed to Wash and sterilize them and means for moving said cans vindividually alongsaid trackway step-by-step while e permitting each of them to pause a predetermined interval at eachA of said stations.

2. In a machine of th'e character described, the combination of a housing, a member in said housing which divides it into a plurality of compartments, each. of which is vadapted to accommodate a container, means for providing a series of stations which in number are greater than thenumber of Vcontainers which said member Will accom-l f modate, said stations having means for subjecting the containers to theaction of various fluid` mediums which are employed in conditioning them for use and means for rotating said member intermittently to move said containers through vsaid housing while permitting'k them to pause a predetermined interval at each of said stations.v

' 3. In a' machine of the character described,

the combination oi' a housing, a circulartrackv way in said housing upon which the containers are arranged, a ymember in'said housing which is located above said trackway and which dividesy said housing into a. plurality of compartments,V

each of said compartments being adaptedk to accommodatea container, means-for providing a series of stations around said trackway which in number are greater' than the number of containers which said member will accommodate,

said' stations having means `for subjecting the-,6*5

containers to the action of various iiuid mediums which are employed in conditioning them forA use and means for rotating said member intermittently to move said containers around said trackw'ay while permitting them to pause a predetermined interval at each of said stations.

4; In a machine of the character described, the combination of a housing, a circular track- Way in said housing upon which the containers are arranged, a member above said trackway,

said member having a series of substantially radially extending arms which divide said heusing into a plurality of compartments, eachof which is adapted to accommodate a container, a l

arranged, a member above said trackway, said.

member having a series of substantially radially extending arms which divide said housing intov a plurality of compartments, each of which is adapted to accommodate a container, the outer ends of said ,arms extending angularly forward in the direction that the said member rotates, a series of stations around saidL trackway which in number are greater than the number of containers which said 4member will accommodate, said stations having means for subjecting the containers to the action of various fluid mediums which are employed in conditioning them ior use and means for rotating said member intermittently to move said containers around said trackway while permitting them to pause a predetermined interval at each of said stations.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a housing having an opening, a circular trackway in said housing upon which the containers are arranged, a member in said housingwhich is located above said trackway and which divides said housing into a plurality of compartments, each of said compartments being adapted to accommodate a container, means for providing a series of stations around ksaid trackway which in number are greaterA than the number of containers which said member will accommodate, said stations having means for subjecting the containersto the action of various uid mediums which are employed in washing and sterilizing them and means for rotating said member intermittently to move said containers around said trackway while permitting them to pause a predetermined interval at each station, said last named means being operative to permit each compartment to pause at one side of said opening to enable the removal oi' a container which has been washed and sterilized and then to pause a second time at the opposite side of said opening to permit a container which is to be washed and sterilized to be arranged in said compartment.

'7. In a machinefor washing and sterilizng containers and their covers, the combination oi a trackway upon which the Ycontainers are arranged, means for providing a series of treating stations along said trackway, means for moving said containers and covers past said stations while permitting them to pause a predetermined interval at each of said stations, one ofA said stations having means for subjecting the containers and covers to the action of a liquid medi'- um, said lastnamed means including a tank which contains said liquid medium, an ejector which is located in said tank, means for supplying steam .to said ejector to spray liquid from said tank into said containers as they are positioned over said ejector, said means being operative to cut oft the supply of steam to said ejector as said containers move away from said station, a receptacle, a conduit through which said receptacle communicates with said ejector, said receptacle being so located relative to said tank that when the supply of steam tosaid ejector is cuto liquid iiows from said tank by gravity and enters said receptacle and a second conduit which communicates at oneend with said receptacle and which leads to a point opposite the position at which the covers pause, whereby when steam is supplied to said ejector to spray liquid from said tank into a container steam is also supplied to said receptacle and the liquid therein is sprayed upon a cover.

8. In a machine` of the character described, the combination' of a housing, a carrier member i in said housing which divides it into a plurality of compartments, each l,of which is adapted to accommodate a container, said carrier member having means for supporting the container covers above their respective containers, means for providing a seriesv of treating stations, means for rotating said carrier member intermittently to move said containers and covers through said machine "while permitting them to pause a predetermined interval at each of said stations, one of said stations having means for subjecting the containers and covers to the action `of a liquid medium, said last named means including a tor which is located in said tank, means for supplying steam to said ejector to spray liquid from said tank into said containers as they are positioned over said ejector, said means being operative to cut oi the supply of steam to said ejector as said containersmove away' from it, a receptacle, a conduit through which said receptacle communicates with said ejector, said receptank which contains said liquid medium, an ejeci tacle being so located relative to said tank that when the supply of steam to said ejector is cut off liquid iows from said tank by gravity and enters said receptacle and a second conduit which communicates at one end with said receptacle and which communicates at its opposite end with the interior of said housing at a point opposite the position at which the covers pause, whereby when steam is supplied to said ejector to spray liquid from said tank into a container steam is also supplied to said receptacle and the liquid therein is discharged against a cover.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a trackway upon which the con- 4 tainers are arranged in an inverted position,

means for providing treating stations along said trackway, means for moving said containers along said trackway while permitting them to pause a predetermined interval atA each of said stations, means at one of said stations forv sub-F jecting the containers to the action of a washing solution, said means including a tank which contains said washing solution and a nozzle for receiving Washing solution from said tank, means at another station for rinsing the washing solution from said containers, said last named means including a second tank which contains the rinsing liquid and a second nozzle for receiving rinsing liquid from said tank, said container overlying saidy iirst mentioned tank when positioned above said second nozzle and steam iets for blowing the liquids and suspended foreign matter oil.' the bottoms of the containers, said liquids and foreign matter draining into said first-mentioned 10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a lhousing having a cylindrical shell, al circular trackway upon which the containers are arranged in an inverted' position, means for providing treating stations around said trackway, means for moving said containers aroundsaid trackway while permitting them to pause a predetermined interval at eachof said stations, means at one of said stations r for subjecting the containers to the action of a washing solution, said means including a tank which con- -tains said washing solution and a nozzle for receivingwashing solution from' said tank, means at another station for rinsing the washing solution from said containers, said last named means including a secondtank which contains the rinsing liquid and a secondnozzle for receiving rinsing liquid from said tank, said tanks having a common division wall,` said'shell extending down-v wardly for a portion of Vits circumference to provide outer side :walls yfor. said tanks, said containers overlying said division wall when positioned over said second nozzle and steam :lets for blowing'the liquid and suspended foreign matter oi the bottoms of the containers, said liquid and foreign matter draining into the tank containing said w'ashing solution.

11. In a machine of the character described,

the vcombination of a housing, a rotatable mem;

ber` in said housing which divides it into a plurality of compartments, each of which is adapted to accommodate a container, means for providing a series of stations whichv in number are greater than the number of containers which said f member will accommodate, said stations having means for subjecting the containers tothe action unloading station and a second of said stationsbeing a loading station, said housing being cut away to provide access to said last two stations.

FRANK F. WOLF. 

